ASUS ROG Raikiri II: The Gamepad That Makes the Xbox Elite Series 2 Look Small

When ASUS announced the ROG Raikiri II, the gaming community’s first reaction was a mix of curiosity and a little skepticism. After all, the Xbox Elite Series 2 has held the crown for premium controllers for a few years now. Yet, after spending a solid weekend putting the Raikiri II through its paces, I’m convinced it’s not just a worthy challenger—it’s practically a game‑changer.

First off, let’s talk feel. The Raikiri II sits in your hands like a well‑balanced sword—nothing too bulky, yet solid enough to inspire confidence. The grip uses a hybrid of soft‑touch rubber and a subtle textured surface. I found myself gripping tighter during intense shoot‑‘em‑up moments, and the controller didn’t slip a bit. Compare that with the Elite’s slightly softer palm, which can feel a tad mushy after an hour of marathon play.

Button layout is where ASUS gets clever points. The four rear paddles are positioned at a natural angle, making them reachable without straining your fingers. What’s more, each paddle can be programmed independently, or you can link them together for combo actions—a flexibility that the Elite’s paddles don’t quite match out of the box. I love that the Raikiri II lets you assign both macros and remap standard buttons, all from its companion app.

Now, the software. ASUS’s ROG Armoury Crate (the app you use for tweaking the controller) feels polished, with a clean UI that actually loads quickly. You can adjust stick dead zones, trigger sensitivity, and even create multiple profiles that sync instantly when you switch games. The Xbox app does the job, but it’s often slower and sometimes throws a cryptic error when you try to load a saved layout. With the Raikiri II, I never once hit a snag.

One feature that genuinely surprised me is the built‑in 3.5 mm audio jack combined with a separate volume dial. You can plug in a headset and control volume without needing to dive into Windows settings. The Elite also has a jack, but you have to rely on the Xbox UI to adjust volume, which can be a nuisance when you’re deep in a firefight.

Performance-wise, the Raikiri II’s sticks are dead‑center smooth. The thumbsticks use Hall‑effect sensors, which essentially eliminate drift—a problem that even the Elite can encounter after heavy use. In my testing, there was zero noticeable lag, whether I was playing a fast‑paced shooter or a precision‑heavy strategy title. The D‑pad feels tactile and crisp, great for fighting games where you need directional accuracy.

Battery life is another arena where ASUS shines. The controller boasts a 3000 mAh battery that, according to my measurements, kept me going for roughly 30 hours of mixed gameplay before I needed a quick 2‑hour recharge. The Elite’s battery, while decent, tends to dip after about 20 hours, and you have to swap out the battery pack—a small hassle but still a hassle.

It’s worth noting that the Raikiri II isn’t just a PC‑only device. It works seamlessly with Xbox Series X|S and even the newer generation of consoles via Bluetooth, although some advanced features (like custom paddle mapping) require the PC app. That said, the basic play experience is flawless across platforms, which makes it a versatile choice for households with mixed setups.

On the downside, the price tag sits a bit higher than the Elite’s MSRP, nudging past the $180 mark. That extra cost is largely justified by the higher quality materials, the more robust software, and the extra battery life, but it may still give budget‑conscious gamers pause.

All things considered, the ASUS ROG Raikiri II feels like a controller built by gamers for gamers. It takes the solid foundation of existing premium gamepads and adds thoughtful tweaks that genuinely improve the day‑to‑day experience. If you’re looking for a controller that feels as good in a competitive arena as it does in a couch‑co‑op session, the Raikiri II deserves a serious look—perhaps even a spot right next to, or even in place of, your Xbox Elite Series 2.